Surviving as a Cripple in Murim – Chapter 23

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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Teottry
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One good thing about conversing with someone engrossed in a topic was that you only needed to nod and chime in. There was no need to rack your brains choosing conversation starters. The conversation flowed effortlessly, even if you stayed silent. While this might annoy those who preferred to lead discussions, it was far better than having an awkward silence hanging heavy in the air. And today was Yeonhwa’s welcoming feast. It was nice to see the guest of honor excited and chattering happily.

“Hmm, Zoroastrianism. With the fire radical (火) in the name, I assumed cremation would be the natural choice, but seems it’s actually forbidden.”

“Yes, that’s right. Earth, fire, water, and air are all creations of Ahura Mazda, and therefore, must not be defiled.”

“Interesting. So, how are funerals conducted?”

“It varies slightly depending on the sect, but usually, we practice sky burial.”

Sky burial… so the bodies are left for the birds, fascinating.

Acquiring new knowledge was always a pleasure. I had initially intended to simply offer polite responses, but I found myself genuinely enjoying the conversation with Yeonhwa.

Good thoughts, good words, good deeds.

These were the most important tenets of Zoroastrianism. And Yeonhwa, a devout follower, adhered to them perfectly. Every one of her actions was graceful, and she treated the servants with a politeness that belied her upbringing as a wealthy young lady.

Furthermore…

“Actually, I was quite worried about how I would adjust to life in the Central Plains, so far from home. But I’m so relieved to have such a kind and wonderful older brother.”

She even spoke beautifully. So adorable. Could she be any cuter?

Yeonhwa’s shy smile, a blush creeping up her cheeks, brought an involuntary grin to my face.

Well, it was probably a practiced smile, but there was nothing wrong with receiving a compliment, even an insincere one. All’s well that ends well.

I sipped my tea, now cold from our lengthy conversation, and calmed my racing heart. I realized during our conversation that she was a skilled conversationalist. Her naturally melodic voice, combined with captivating red eyes, drew you in effortlessly. She read the mood and the emotions of those around her, offering words of praise when needed. It sounded simple, but it was a surprisingly difficult conversational skill to master.

It was a tiring way to converse, certainly not something a fifteen-year-old should be capable of.

Personally, I would prefer to tell her to relax and be herself, but such words would probably make her even more uncomfortable.

If I were suddenly orphaned and forced to live with relatives I’d never met, I’d be on edge, and my manners would be impeccable.

If she were cast out from here, she would truly have nowhere else to go. With such thoughts weighing heavily on her mind, she would undoubtedly strive to please the new members of her family.

Time would likely resolve these issues eventually, but it was still a rather melancholic thought.

I had considered offering to carve her some roast suckling pig to lift her spirits, but decided against it, fearing I might overwhelm or overstep my bounds.

It was a little silly, and I chuckled to myself.

I had thought Yeonhwa was being overly polite, but looking back, I realized I was also being overly polite and tense, unsure of how to treat my newly acquired, adorable younger sister.

As I chuckled, Yeonhwa tilted her head, mirroring my expression, and offered a small smile. Even if it was a forced smile, it was still adorable.

In any case, Sima Yeonhwa’s welcoming feast, attended by no other Sima family member besides myself, concluded in a seemingly warm and harmonious atmosphere, the conversation flowing smoothly.

Or so I thought.

As the sun set and the moon rose, after escorting Yeonhwa to her room, I turned to leave, when a trembling voice called out from behind.

“Older Brother… um… did Father… mention anything about me?”

“Huh?”

The unexpected question sent my thoughts reeling.

Had Father ever mentioned Yeonhwa? Not that I could recall.

I hadn’t even known of Yeonhwa’s existence until I received the news of my uncle’s death. I had only known that my uncle lived in the Western Regions.

Come to think of it, it was rather strange. When I was younger, Father would occasionally travel to the Western Regions to consult with my uncle on business matters.

If he had met Yeonhwa during those trips, he would have mentioned that my uncle had a lovely daughter. But he never did.

Red eyes, porcelain skin, a beautiful face. It wasn’t an appearance one would easily forget.

At dinner, Father would often share various anecdotes to facilitate conversation and create a pleasant atmosphere amongst the family. There was no reason for him not to mention his beautiful niece with the unusual red eyes.

But he hadn’t. He had concealed Yeonhwa’s existence from the family.

Why would he hide her existence? Was there a reason to keep her a secret?

It was strange. I couldn’t understand it.

“I see… so he didn’t.”

I had been lost in thought for too long. Before I could answer, the prolonged silence spoke volumes, and the words pierced Yeonhwa’s heart.

“No! That’s not… I just forgot…”

Wait. For the briefest of moments, a fleeting instant, I saw Yeonhwa’s true face. A lonely, melancholic smile.

“You’re so kind, Older Brother.”

The lingering chill of winter clung to the early spring air, a cold night breeze passing between us, creating an invisible wall.

“I truly enjoyed myself today. You must be tired after preparing everything by yourself. Don’t worry about me, and please go get some rest.”

With those parting words and a bright, forced smile, Yeonhwa excused herself and retreated to her room with measured, graceful steps.

Each movement was elegant and refined. The same graceful steps I had observed earlier in the day.

Yet, for some reason, it looked as though she was running away in tears.

I frowned, rubbing the back of my neck, as I stared at the spot where Yeonhwa had been standing. My thoughts, usually sharp and clear, were muddled.

Frustrated, I looked up at the sky. The moon, unnecessarily beautiful, hung high above.

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I stayed up all night pondering the reason behind my father’s secrecy regarding Yeonhwa, but couldn’t come up with a logical, satisfactory explanation.

I even entertained the absurd notion that Yeonhwa might not be my uncle’s daughter, but rather, my father’s illegitimate child. But… it didn’t quite fit.

Unlike modern times, having concubines wasn’t taboo in this era. In fact, it was common practice for wealthy and influential men to have multiple wives and concubines.

There was no need to maintain a concubine in a distant land and raise an illegitimate child in secret. And to go through the trouble of disguising her as a relative’s child was even more perplexing.

I wasn’t getting anywhere with this. Perhaps I should just ask Father directly.

It was better to ask the person involved than to rack my brains and potentially arrive at a completely inaccurate conclusion based on my own misguided assumptions.

If he told the truth, it would be a relief, and if he lied, well, that would be an answer in itself, albeit a disappointing one.

Father had returned home this morning after attending to urgent business. I could simply go and ask him… but now that I was about to confront him, I hesitated.

Should I really barge in and demand, “Hey, old man, did you knock someone up behind our backs? Spill the beans!”?

That didn’t seem right. I might get slapped. And frankly, if a slap was all I got, I’d consider myself lucky.

Tap-tap…

Despite my inner turmoil, my legs, though unsteady, carried me forward.

While confronting my father about a potential illegitimate child was daunting, keeping silent was equally suffocating.

He had just returned from work. I should greet him and offer my condolences first, then broach the subject when the opportunity presented itself.

I had been up all night and had overslept, and it was already past noon. At this hour, Father would likely be having tea with Mother, or perhaps my brother and his wife.

As I approached the dining area, I heard the sound of cheerful voices. It wasn’t just one or two people.

I cautiously peeked inside. The entire Sima family, excluding myself, was gathered there. Every single one of them.

My elder brother, his complexion improved after his fever broke last night, his wife, my niece, Father, Mother, and even Yeonhwa, were all seated together, enjoying tea and lively conversation.

“I apologize for not being there to welcome you yesterday. I trust your accommodations were satisfactory?”

“Yes, Older Brother Mancheon took such good care of me. Everything was perfect.”

Father’s gentle inquiry and Yeonhwa’s cheerful response painted a picture of familial harmony so perfect it made my solitary worries from last night seem foolish.

It was a little frustrating, but I preferred being the fool to having a family feud. It seemed the meddlesome, busybody Sima Mancheon should gracefully bow out.

Honestly, I was exhausted after being up all night.

I stifled a yawn, turning away from the cheerful laughter of my family, and made my way towards the comfort of my own room, my staff tapping softly against the floor.

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Gosh, I wonder if she’s truly illegitimate child